| Ethmia pusiella (Linnaeus, 1758) |
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Scientific name: Ethmia pusiella (Linnaeus, 1758) Common name: Other names: The Ethmiidae family of microlepidoptera moths is sometimes considered as a sub-family of Elachistidae or Oecophoridae. French name: Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Microlepidoptera Family: Ethmiidae Subfamily: Ethmiinae Wingspan: 19-20 mm. Biotope: Waste grounds, dry places. Geographic area: Europe, east to the eastern part of Central Asia. Flight time: June to August. Number of generations : Caterpillar: Black and white with one dorsal and two lateral orange lines with black dots. Several species of the Ethmia genus have very similar caterpillars growing on the same host plants. Host plant: Lungwort (Pulmonaria sp), Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare), Gromwell (Lithospermum sp). |
The fore wings of Ethmia pusiella are white with a broad longitudinal black line, starting from the basal area, near the costal edge, and ending just before the submarginal area. Other black patches draw three oblique bold threads starting from this longitudinal line towards the inner side of the wing. You can also see a few black dots in the basal area, a slightly larger black mark at mid-length on the costal edge and a submarginal line of small black dots. The hind wings are a very pale greyish white colour with a white fringe. Ethmia fumidella, previously considered as a subspecies of Ethmia pusiella, cannot be separated only with a picture. |
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I have observed this caterpillar on a Viper's Bugloss on the side of a railway track. I still have a doubt about the identification of this species. The only confirmations about caterpillar species of the Ethmia genus that I have been able to find were results of raising captured caterpillars. |
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Close-up view of the head. |
André Bon November 2010